If You Must Use Face Wipes, Use These

pic-Vogue

If You Must Use Face Wipes, Use These

When face wipes arrived on the scene, make-up-wearers everywhere couldn't believe their luck. Promising to remove all make-up and impurities in a simple swipe, they seemed the ultimate time-saver in a world of sticky balms, muslin and three-step cleanse and tone routines.

However soon our hopes were crushed as dermatologists warned that they could cause dryness due to the alcohol content, wrinkles due to the scrubbing action many of us employ when using them and breakouts due to impurities either left on the face or simply moved around the face by the wipes.

Truthfully, there's no real substitute for washing your face. On top of that, modern cleansers are so sophisticated, efficient and tailored to specific needs that wipes feel almost redundant in a savvy skincare kit. But wipes are like many common vices. No, we shouldn't use them every day and no, they might not remove every last trace of make-up, but there's a time and a place where nothing else will do. Think festivals, late nights, plane journeys and thrown in with your workout kit for speedy make-up removal pre- and post-gym. Yes they have their flaws, but sometimes a cleansing regime you can perform from the comfort of your bed is the only appealing one.

The golden rules, then, are to use them sparingly - no lazy evenings in or standard weeknights - to choose high-quality wipes with gentler ingredients, and to wash your face afterwards where possible, even if just with water. If you have a thorough and more carefully-curated skincare regime most of the time, the occasional wipe isn't going to undo all of your good work. Let's face it, sometimes convenience wins. With that in mind, see Vogue's pick of six of the best here.

Bioderma

Bioderma's famous Sensibio H2O micellar water now comes in face wipe form. Cloths are infused with the super-cleansing micellar solution that made the original such a hit, removing make-up gently and quickly with fatty acid esters that leave skin soothed and ready for the next step of your regime.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution Make-Up Removing Wipes. £7.10 for 25 wipes, available at www.escentual.com.

Eyeko

Formulated specifically for eyes, Eyeko's wipes are made from 100 per cent cotton and include a good dose of nourishing olive oil to easily remove even waterproof mascara without drying the skin.

Eyeko Mascara Off Eye Makeup Remover Wipes. £6 for 10 wipes, available at www.eyeko.com.

Estée Lauder

Great at removing even heavy-duty make-up, Estée Lauder's wipes also have a conditioning formula for immediate hydration. Add to that the amazing smell (it includes rose, violet, jasmine and muguet) and the snazzy packaging, and you're onto a winner.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Long-Wear Makeup Remover Wipes. £20 for 45 wipes, available from February 2017 at www.esteelauder.co.uk.

Neal's Yard Remedies

Free of the nasties that make most face wipes harsh on skin, Neal's Yard Remedies's wipes are made of biodegradable organic cotton and feature aloe vera to soothe. Best of all they stay moist in the resealable package, so no need to scrub or drag the skin to get results.

Neal's Yard Remedies Organic Facial Wipes. £5.50 for 25 wipes, available at www.nealsyardremedies.com.

RMS Beauty

If you want to be really virtuous, RMS Beauty's make-up-removing wipes feature just one ingredient - coconut oil. Individually wrapped, meaning they're perfect for travel, the wipes not only remove make-up and impurities but also leave skin smooth and hydrated. Just remember to warm the sachet in your hands before use, as the coconut oil hardens when cooled.

RMS Beauty The Ultimate Make Up Remover Wipe. £12 for 20 wipes, available at www.cultbeauty.co.uk.

Korres

Greek brand Korres knows what it's doing when it comes to creating products that deliver, and its soothing cleansing wipes are no exception. Milk proteins nourish and calm the skin whilst vitamin B5 and aloe vera act on redness and irritation.

Korres Milk Proteins Cleansing & Make-Up Removing Wipes. £7 for 25 wipes, available at www.asos.com.